Israel strikes militants in Gaza despite ceasefire

Gaza City, Palestinian Territories, Nov 15 (AFP/APP): Israel launched fresh strikes against militants in Gaza, the army said early Friday, weakening a ceasefire put in place after fighting this week killed 34 Palestinians in exchanges of fire.

The ceasefire began Thursday morning following two days of deadly violence in the Gaza Strip triggered by an Israeli strike on an militant commander.

But Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said in a WhatsApp message to reporters that new overnight strikes were under way.

“The IDF is currently striking terror targets in the Gaza Strip,” it said.

It came after five rockets were fired at Israel from Gaza — also after the ceasefire came into effect — with two of them intercepted by air defences, according to the army.

Ceasefire takes effect after spike in Israel-Gaza violence

During the day on Thursday, normal life had resumed quietly in Israeli regions near the Gaza border, while in Gaza, citizens had also embraced the return of a relative calm.

“We hope for peace, we don’t want war,” said Mahmoud Jarda, an inhabitant of the enclave.

The ceasefire brokered by Egyptian and UN officials, the usual mediators between Gaza and Israel, was agreed as the flare-up raised fears of a new all-out conflict in the territory.